Messaging Providers¶
Messaging providers offer access to communication platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Slack, and more. Connecting a chatbot to these services allows users to interact with the bot on the respective service.
Supported providers¶
Below is a list of supported providers and their integrated platforms in OCS:
- Twilio
- Facebook Messenger
- Turn.io
- Meta Cloud API
- Slack
- SureAdhere
Choosing a WhatsApp provider¶
Open Chat Studio supports three WhatsApp providers. The table below summarises the key differences to help you choose:
| Feature | Twilio | Turn.io | Meta Cloud API |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Meta integration | No | No | Yes |
| Third-party intermediary required | Yes | Yes | No |
| Webhook URL | Per-chatbot | Per-chatbot | Single global endpoint |
| Text messages | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Media messages (images, video, audio, documents) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Setup complexity | Moderate (account + WhatsApp sender setup) | Moderate (account + approval process) | Higher (direct Meta Business Platform configuration, webhook setup, token management) |
| Pricing model | Per-message fees + WhatsApp conversation fees | Subscription + WhatsApp conversation fees | WhatsApp conversation fees only (no intermediary markup) |
Use Meta Cloud API when you want a direct connection to the WhatsApp Business Platform without routing traffic through a third-party service. Use Twilio or Turn.io when you already have an account with one of those providers.